Development of antiepileptic compounds for intractable epilepsy based on ketone bodies

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590114
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biological pharmacy
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: INOUE TSUYOSHI 岡山大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 准教授 (40370134)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MORIYAMA Yoshinori 岡山大学, 大学院医歯薬学総合研究科, 教授 (10150658)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 難治性てんかん / ケトン食療法 / グルタミン酸作動性シナプス / ケトン体 / 乳酸 / スライスパッチクランプ法 / 代謝物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is known that ketogenic diet treatment is effective for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. In this study, we focused on metabolic changes induced by ketogenic diets (increases in ketone bodies and decreases in glucose), examined the antiepileptic mechanisms, and explored the mechanism-based antiepileptic compounds. By changing the chemical structure of a ketone body, we found a compound that suppresses excitatory synaptic transmission and epileptiform discharges in vivo. We also found a new mechanism of neural inhibition and antiepileptic action induced by ketogenic diets, and identified the mechanism-based antiepileptic compound.

Free Research Field

神経生理学